Each grain on the cob is the starting point for a thread of silk; and, unless the thread receives some particle of the dust which falls from the tassel flowers, the kernel with which it is connected will not grow.

玉米穗轴上的每一个颗粒都是一束丝状雌花的起点，除非花束获得来自于穗状雄花的微粒，否则它所连接的内核就无法成长。